Arsenal boss Unai Emery reveals why Mesut Ozil was dropped for Bournemouth win
German playmaker was left on the bench as Gunners managed to earn 2-1 win away from home on Sunday
UNAI EMERY axed Mesut Ozil because he feared the fragile Arsenal star could not handle Bournemouth’s ‘physicality!’
The German midfielder, 30, was dropped to the bench after a run of three straight draws threatened to derail the Gunners’ bid for a Champions League spot.
And the Arsenal boss admitted he did not feel £350,000-a-week Ozil had the fight to deal with the Cherries.
Asked directly about his axing, Emery said: “We thought how we can be better in the match, a very demanding match with physicality and intensity and then we decided.
“Every player is important but today we tried with three at centre-back and it was another possibility for us to improve and find our best performance as a team.”
Ozil, 5ft 10in, did not even warm up as it became clear he would not be risked against a Cherries midfield that included 5ft 4in Ryan Fraser and 5ft 8in David Brooks.
But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a 67th- minute winner to give Arsenal three gritty points, backing up Emery’s reasons for leaving Ozil out.
And the Gunners boss continued to allude to concerns over the midfielder’s stomach for a fight when the going gets tough after being asked why he did not warm up.
Emery added: “It depends how the match is going. I decided on another option.
“We knew this was a difficult stadium, a difficult team.
“Seventeen matches we haven’t lost but the last three we drew.
“That is not enough for us.” Emery then declined a further opportunity to insist he still had trust in Ozil to play in the toughest matches.
It all points to big worries over how much he can rely on him when the chips are down.
The German now faces a week to convince his boss he should be recalled for the North London derby against Tottenham this weekend.
Spurs play with a similar intensity to Bournemouth.
And Emery has a real dilemma over whether to leave him out again.
He claimed the manner of Arsenal’s display at Bournemouth was his side beginning to rediscover their best form.
And if he sticks with playing three at the back, Ozil’s place is very much in doubt.
Emery added: “We are finding out the best systems and today the combination of Sead Kolasinac and Alex Iwobi was interesting.
“The most important thing for us is to find the balance and that comes with more consistency in our defending.”